Sarcoptc mange is a skin contagious disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite belongs to the arachnid subclass Acarina and known as itch mite. Adult female mites burrow into host skin and can affect 104 species mammalian hosts including a variety of different wild, domestic and farmed animals. General signs of mange include intense pruritus, seborrhea, erythematous eruptions, papule formation, and alopecia. Host behavioral changes include lethargy, lack of awareness, changes in movement and disrupted circadian rhythm. In November 2015 during the sampling for a research project about rodent’s ecto-endoparasites in Kerman (Iran), two house mice (Mus musculus) with distinct pinnal lesions were trapped. The main cutaneous lesions observed on the affected ear margins, were alopecia, scales, crusts, skin thickening, lichenification and papules. For parasitological studies the affected skin was scraped and scrapings were collected and cleared by 10% KOH solution then examined under common light microscope. For histopathological examinations, samples of the ear lesions were taken and fixed in 10 percent buffered formalin and processed according to the standard histological techniques for paraffin embedding. Tissue sections 5 μm thick were cut and used for conventional haematoxylin–eosin staining method. Parasitological examinations revealed the causative agent of these lesions was Sarcoptes scabiei. Histopathological examinations of the lesions showed numerous sections of the mite within the epidermis. Severe atrophy of epidermis and some ulcers were observed adjacent to the mite sections. Furthermore, massive hyperkeratosis, tissue debris, crusts, hyperemia, infiltration of different inflammatory cells types and scar formation were seen. This report demonstrated mice population can be affected by S. scabiei infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of sarcoptic mange in house mice.

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